It’s been sixteen-and-a-half years in the making but racing at Yeongcheon finally begins on Sunday. There are 6 races at the new track from 12:45 to 16:30 and 11 at Seoul from 10:35 to 17:55. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Juvenile maidens with all eleven racing for the first time. (2) RISING KILLER took three goes to qualify but when he did on August 13th, he looked good, racing handy throughout and crossing the line 3rd in a decent time. He should be nice and race fit following all those trials, and from a good draw, has every chance first-up. (8) FIORANO posted the quickest time among these in trials, when 4th on August 27th. That’s enough to have him firmly in the numbers here. (7) SAMJEONG RACE was a fair 3rd in his heat on August 20th, settling midfield and running on and is another who, if he brings that form to the races, can go close. (6) CRAZY BLUE, who led his trial before being passed by an experienced horse, and (9) GEUMBIT CODE are others who hinted at ability in their respective trials.
| Selections | (2) Rising Killer (8) Fiorano (7) Samjeong Race (6) Crazy Blue |
| Next Best | 9, 10 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 6, 10 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
After winning a trial, (3) MIGHTY CHAMP ran a close 3rd on debut over 1200M on August 8th, showing on pace throughout. He should have come on for that run, he draws better here, and he won’t need to improve much to win. (11) MY DOLPUNG has raced twice for a 3rd and a 4th place, both over this distance and both times leading. She has the challenge of the widest gate here, but with a bit of luck at the start, she can be competitive again. (2) BEAT STAR should be similarly nice and fit having raced twice for a 4th and a 5th, in his case over 1000M and 1200M. He draws nicely and can be a danger. (8) TONNERRE DOS and the solitary debut-maker (6) WORLD OF DREAM, the latter very quick in a trial two weeks ago, are others to consider on a place line.
| Selections | (3) Mighty Champ (11) My Dolpung (2) Beat Star (8) Tonnerre Dos |
| Next Best | 6, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 6, 11 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(3) BLUE HAWAII was ordinary in trials, but they were evidently at too short a distance as he was a very solid 2nd on debut over 1400M on August 23rd, when he settled back and ran on strongly behind a good winner. He should have come on for the run and won’t need to improve much, if at all, to win here. (7) WINNER NAMCHON didn’t do much in his first two outings when ridden on pace but was much better when coming from behind for a very close 2nd over 1200M on August 8th. The step up in trip can suit and he can be the danger here. (8) WONDERFUL TUNE UP had a poor day at the office when favourite last time out but going on his 2nd place at this distance two starts back, he can be given another chance here. (11) CHEONGGANG BOM and (4) PASA ACE other place chances.
| Selections | (3) Blue Hawaii (7) Winner Namchon (8) Wonderful Tune Up (11) Cheonggang Bom |
| Next Best | 4, 9 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6, 7, 11 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(3) LAST K got his maiden win at start three over this distance in April, before finishing 2nd on his first try at this class at the end of May. He hasn’t raced since but he has been back in work since early August and while match fitness must be taken on trust, he looks the best of these. (10) WOW RUNNER was an all the way winner on debut over 1000M on June 20th, scoring by plenty. She’s had twelve weeks off since then and she is up in class and in trip as well as drawing a wide gate. But she carries a very light weight and she can measure up, (5) RAON THE TONY was a gate to wire winner at this class over 1300M on June 14th. She comes up 3.5kg in weight today but Seo Seung-un is aboard and she can be close again. (9) HAKSAN TAEPUNG and (1) HOT FEVER others in the hunt.
| Selections | (3) Last K (10) Wow Runner (5) Raon The Tony (9) Haksan Taepung |
| Next Best | 1, 4 |
| Fast Start | 5, 7, 8, 9 |
Yeongcheon Race 1: Class Open (1800M) Special Weight A / KRW 150 Million
The opening race at the new racecourse and three-year-old fillies get us underway. (3) PACHOUI KKUM was 2nd on debut over 1200M and has since followed up with back-to-back wins over that trip and most recently over 1400M at class 5 level on August 7th. She has been on pace all three times and she is, like all but one here, up to the trip for the first time, but she looks to have plenty of potential. (4) P.D SPECIAL won back-to-back races at 1300M and 1400M in April and May from the front, before struggling from a wide draw last time out. Franco stays on and she can be a chance here. (7) MOMENTUM is the highest rated in the field by a big margin having won up to class 4 level and most recently coming 3rd at class 3. She may not have as much scope for improvement as the other two, and she too steps up in trip for the first time, but she has to rate as a chance. (2) OASIS RUBY ran in the Korean Oaks and is the only one who has previously tackled 1800M and on that alone gets into the minors. (5) POWERFUL DEVIL another in the frame.
| Selections | (3) Pachoui Kkum (4) P.D Special (7) Momentum (2) Oasis Ruby |
| Next Best | 5, 1 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 6, 8 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Fillies and mares only, and (2) POWER MAGIC has never finished any worse than 5th and got her maiden win two outings back when on pace throughout over this distance. She was then 2nd to Point I on her first try at this class on August 15th. Fdrom a good draw, she should be on pace, Seo Seung-un is on, and she can win. (8) RACE DIVA also got her maiden win two starts back, in her case at 1400M, and then ran 2nd on August 17th having been on pace throughout. She is up 2kg in weight from that but shapes as the main danger here. It’s been a long tome since (6) MIGHTY CAP registered her solitary win, but she has been consistent recently and has 4th places in both her latest two and Andre staying on is a plus. (7) PASA QIEEN and (3) ECLIPSE SUNNY are among the other main contenders.
| Selections | (2) Power Magic (8) Race Diva (6) Mighty Cap (7) Pasa Queen |
| Next Best | 3, 4 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Yeongcheon Race 2: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(2) JEONGMUN FAPPIANO looks the class here. She got rapidly promoted to this class with two wins from her first three starts before taking a couple of goes to adjust. She has two 2nd places and a 3rd from her latest three, all at 1400M, and while se comes back to this distance for the first time since running 3rd on debut, she is the one to beat. (6) GOLDEN EMPIRE got caught wide on a strong pace last time out when sent off as favourite and struggled. We’ll draw a line through that and instead go on his close 2nd place two starts back, when on pace throughout. A very good apprentice climbs on and he can be competitive. (5) QUEENS DRAGON returned from six months out on August 23rd to finish a fair 6th of eleven. She has won at this distance in the past and can strip fitter for that run and can be closer today. (8) ROAD TO CLEO and (7) DOCTOR CITY other place chances.
| Selections | (2) Jeongmun Fappiano (6) Golden Empire (5) Queens Dragon (8) Road To Cleo |
| Next Best | 7, 1 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(8) ROAD TO CHAMPION got his maiden win at start two over 1200M and has since run 2nd and 3rd in two tries at this class over 1300M and 1400M, showing on pace both times. He is actually down in weight here and with Maia aboard, he should be on pace and will be a short price to go all the way. (2) HAKSAN SWORD needs a line drawn through his latest when slow away and never involved. Instead, we’ll go on his 3rd place at this class over 1400M two starts back on which form he is right in this. (1) SWEET SONG enters off a smart 3rd place at this class over 1400M on August 9th. Like the favourite, she gets a slight weight drop and if she can get a good start from the inside gate, she can be in this a long way. (6) HANGANG FANTASTIC and (7) HOLY KAISER are probably the best of a limited rest.
| Selections | (8) Road To Champion (2) Haksan Sword (1) Sweet Song (6) Hangang Fantastic |
| Next Best | 7, 9 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 7, 8 |
Yeongcheon Race 3: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(6) STEALTH KINGMAN has two wins and two runner-up finishes from four starts so far, most recently scoring at class 5 level over 1300M on July 26th when racing, as has been his pattern, on the speed throughout. He is up in class but down 2kg in weight, and he can win again. (7) CHARMING BOSS didn’t do much in his first two outings, but after going back to trial, he was an eye-catching winner at this class and distance on August 14th, leading all the way. He comes up a full 4kg in weight, but the manner of that victory suggests that there can be more to come. (5) OASIS YOUNG has been working his way into this class following his second win in March. He enters off a front-running 4th place on August 7th and can be in this a long way too. (1) GLOBAL HIGH and (3) STORMY DAY are the minor money chances.
| Selections | (6) Stealth Kingman (7) Charming Boss (5) Oasis Young (1) Global High |
| Next Best | 3, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 6, 7 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Fillies only. (5) RAON FINALLE was an also-ran in the Luna Stakes (opening leg of the Triple Tiara) but has since registered tree consecutive 3rd place finishes, all at this class and coming from off the pace. Her two wins were over this trip, and in this company, she has every chance of returning to the winner’s circle. If she does find one too quick, it might be (11) LOVE IN SEOUL. She was 3rd to Raon Finalle’s 2nd when they raced one another over a mile on August 16th. That continued a very consistent run of form and while she has the challenge of the widest gate, it can be overcome. (4) TIGER BULPAE’s maiden win had been overdue, and it finally arrived on August 9th over this distance when she raced handy throughout. She comes up in class today, but she is down in weight, and she can measure up. (8) LUCKY DAY and (7) BISANG BELL are among plenty of others with place chances.
| Selections | (5) Raon Finalle (11) Love In Seoul (4) Tiger Bulpae (8) Lucky Day |
| Next Best | 7, 3 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 10, 11 |
Yeongcheon Race 4: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(8) HANEUL SINHWA hasn’t won for a long time but on current form, he really should be winning this. He neat a couple of these when 5th two starts back and was then 3rd at this class and distance on August 7th when settling midfield and running on. He is giving the rest of the field at least 4.5kg but should still have too much. (9) HEUIMANG DANBI was a winner four starts back in a very quick race over 1200M. She has been only ordinary since but she has also won over this trip and that’s enough to have her in the numbers here. (3) BURUI SINJEON races out of class but is rarely far away and looks a solid place chance. (1) SEONGSIL DREAM and (7) DOCTOR LOUIS are the others who can be aiming for a much better finish than usual.
| Selections | (8) Haneul Sinhwa (9) Heuimang Danbi (3) Burui Sinjeon (1) Seongsil Dream |
| Next Best | 7, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 7, 9 |
Seoul Race 8: Class Open (1200M) Special Weight A / Gwacheon Mayor’s Trophy (Juvenile Listed) / KRW 200 Million
Seoul’s opening leg of the juvenile series and it’s competitive. (9) CLUTCH DERBY has been superb in two starts so far over 1200M and 1300M leading all the way in both and stopping the clock in quick times. He has the challenge of the widest gate but if he continues to progress, he is the one to beat. “If” does a lot of heavy lifting with juveniles though and (1) MAJOR FURY has been impressive too. After winning on debut, he was 2nd to Hope K in the Rookie Stakes on August 16th. Hope K – ineligible here – went on to win a Trophy race last week in emphatic fashion over his fellow imported two-year-olds last week and while Major Fury was five-lengths behind him in the Rookie, that form doesn’t look at all bad. Not to be confused with Hope K is (6) ROYAL HOPE K. He is two for two so far with the latest over this distance at class 5 level, and he too looks a prospect. (5) SAMJEONG CHEF was a very quick winner on debut over 1000M. (3) GWANAKSAN WINDY too comes in having scored by ten-lengths on debut and could be anything.
| Selections | (9) Clutch Derby (1) Major Fury (6) Royal Hope K (5) Samjeong Chef |
| Next Best | 3, 2 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 6, 9 |
Yeongcheon Race 5: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(6) FLYING RACE returned from five months out to win over 1300M on August 16th showing on pace throughout. He is up in class here but is down in weight and if anything, can strip fitter for that run. (7) MEGA MACHINE came from off the pace to score over this distance on August 14th. He too is up in class but is down 3kg in weight and in this modest company, he can measure up. (3) EL CAZADOR ran 3rd last time out at this class and distance on July 26th. He is yet to win in seventeen attempts, but this is the kind of race where he can find some money. (5) GUKDAE HERO, who beat El Cazador when winning that July 26th race, but who does mix his form, along with (1) DOCTOR CASTLE, are the others who look capable of aiming for a place.
| Selections | (6) Flying Race (7) Mega Machine (3) El Cazador (5) Gukdae Hero |
| Next Best | 1, 9 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 9 |
Yeongcheon Race 6: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(5) STEALTH MODE has won his latest two, both over 1800M and most recently at this class on August 30th when on pace all the way. He makes a quick return here and while he is down in trip and up significantly in weight, he can make it three in a row today. (10) JULGEOUN DONGHANG is the danger. She enters off a comfortable win at this class over a mile on August 14th when she raced handy early before pulling clear. She has won at this trip too, she only comes up 1.5kg in weight, and she has every chance. (8) LEMON TREE is up in class following a win over this distance on August 9th and she can measure up in this company. (6) COLOMBIA CHAMP and (4) BEOLMA BROWN others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (5) Stealth Mode (10) Julgeoun Donghang (8) Lemon Tree (6) Colombia Champ |
| Next Best | 4, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 7, 8 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(4) RYAN BEAT did nothing on debut in January but since returning in June, has won two of three, most recently on August 22nd, when he stepped up to 1700M and was a comfortable on pace winner. He is up in class, but down significantly in weight, the slight step up in 1800M can suit even more, and he is the one to beat. (7) PRIMERO is up in class too, in his case following two runner-up finishes and a win, all over two turns. He too comes down 3.5kg in weight and he can be a danger. (6) PAS DE CHEVAL very nearly won at this class over 1700M in June, only to be taken down late. He hasn’t raced since but looked well in a trail two weeks ago and can be in the mix here. (2) HEEMANGBAND and (11) YEONGWON GIANT are others with at least placing chances.
| Selections | (4) Ryan Beat (7) Primero (6) Pas De Cheval (2) Heemangband |
| Next Best | 11, 5 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6, 7, 9 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(10) NINJA TIGER got her maiden win over 1400M at the end of May and has since run 4th and 2nd in two tries at this class, both over 1700M. She gets the challenging gate ten for her first try at a mile, but Kozzi stays on, and she can overcome it. (7) THUNDER MARVEL was a winner at this class over 1400M in June and then ran 2nd on his first try at this distance on August 8th when he led close to home. He only comes up 1kg in weight, and he has a big chance here. It’s fair to say that (5) MUJEHAN GEUP hasn’t quite lived up to the early expectations created when he won his first three in fine style. He tries a mile for the first time though and given the way he has raced in his latest two, it may be what he needs to get back on track. (3) UWA and (4) SAUDI SOCKS others in the hunt.
| Selections | (10) Ninja Tiger (7) Thunder Marvel (5) Mujehan Geup (3) Uwa |
| Next Best | 4, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 8, 10 |
Seoul Race 11: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Competitive finale. (2) CHEONGUNG STORM returned from five months out to almost lead the entire way around at this class and distance on August 17th, only to get nailed on the line. He carries an even lighter weight today, he draws well, and second-up, he can strip even fitter. (6) STORM CROWN was a winner over 1200M on August 17th, settling handy and pulling clear by a good margin. He comes up in class today but is down 2.5kg in weight and has every chance. (1) GLORY YEONGGWANG came back from eight-months out to beat a couple of today’s rivals on his way to 4th place at this class and distance on August 8th. He has won over 1400M before and just like Cheongung Storm, can have derived benefit from his first run back. (8) YONGBI HERO and (10) THUNDER A ONE among the other chances.
| Selections | (2) Cheongung Storm (6) Storm Crown (1) Glory Yeonggwang (8) Yongbi Hero |
| Next Best | 10, 7 |
| Fast Start | 4, 7, 10, 11 |
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